Nancy Guthrie Update: Experts Suggest Homicide Ruling Still Possible Without Body

As the investigation into Nancy Guthrie's disappearance pushes into its fifth month, major developments are becoming increasingly rare. Last week, reports of a body discovered in Mexico suggested a tragic development, but these reports ended up hailing no results.

While the Pima County Sheriff's Department is hesitant to rule the investigation a cold case due to the ongoing forensic analysis, experts are beginning to suggest that Guthrie's discovery now seems incredibly unlikely.

Speaking with Newsweek, criminal defense attorney Michael T. van der Veen and former police officer Daniel K. Maxwell shared their thoughts on the direction this highly publicized case is heading. Both agree that even without the discovery of a body, a homicide ruling is entirely possible under these circumstances.

A no-body case is still treated as a homicide under the conditions that circumstantial and forensic evidence overwhelmingly suggest the victim has died at the hands of criminal involvement (via Newsweek)

Michael T. van der Veen highlighted the evidence for this ruling, pointing out the blood found on Nancy Guthrie's porch, the sudden disconnecting of her pacemaker on the night of her disappearance, and the footage of a masked individual on her porch captured by her doorbell camera.

"Prosecutors can prove it circumstantially because judges give a jury instruction… that circumstantial evidence is just as strong or stronger than direct evidence. Through the circumstantial evidence, the prosecutor can prove the corpus delicti, or ‘body of the crime'."

Maxwell emphasized a similar verdict, claiming: "The essential elements to prove… are that a crime has been committed and the person arrested was responsible for the crime. This would also include eliminating all non‑criminal causes [...] There is a premium on any physical evidence."

Physical evidence has admittedly been lacking so far, with the blood found on Guthrie's porch generally considered insufficient to rule that she was killed during the attack. The FBI is currently conducting further forensic research to determine whether physical evidence points towards Guthrie's death, at which point a decision will likely be made about a potential no-body homicide ruling.

The Guthrie family is offering a reward of $1,000,000 to anybody with information that leads to Nancy's return. The FBI is offering a further $100,000. Individuals are urged to call 1-800-CALL-FBI (1-800-225-5324) if they believe they can help.

This story was originally published by Men's Journal on Jun 16, 2026, where it first appeared in the News section. Add Men's Journal as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

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This story was originally published June 16, 2026 at 4:28 AM.